Dry soluble chlorine compound



Eitented Feb. 25, 1936 PATENT OFFICE nay 'sownnn cnLonmn comouun Arnold H. Johnson and Kenning A. Trebler, Baltimore, Md assignors to Scaltest System Laboratories, Inc., New York, N.

Maryland Y., a corporation of No Drawing. Application August 3, 1935, Serial N0. 34,634

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a dry water-soluble chlorine compound in the form of a powder which is stable, and forms a clear solution having available chlorine in amount to produce an effective germicide and disinfectant.

Such compounds now known generally, are expensive, and while it has been suggested to use insoluble compounds which are less expensive,

since a clear solution is desirable, such insoluble products are unsatisfactory.

The present invention aims to produce a dry chlorine compound in the form of a water-soluble power mixture which is stable. wherein the available chlorine will be present in desired per-'- l5 centage, and which will not be burdensome as to cost.

portant consideration, aside from the matter of expense, is to produce a powder which will dis- 20 solve readily in water to give a clear solution. We

' have found that relatively inexpensive but ordinarily insoluble or dimcultly soluble hypochlorites may be combined with suitable solubilizing compounds to produce a mixture which is soluble, i. e.

25 the solubilizing agent yields soluble compounds of the cation of the hypochlorite on the alkaline side of neutrality in aqueous solution to give a perfectly clear solution wherein the chlorine is avail:

able in the required amount and wherein the 1 germicidal solution is either non-corrosive or the compounds with the cation of the hypochlorite,

40 e. g. alkaline earth compounds on the alkaline side of neutrality in an aqueous solution.

Also we are enabled to employ chlorine compoundsmost emciently in that a hypochlorite having a chlorine content which is relatively high,

' namely to to 70% is used so that the amount of available chlorine perunit quantity of the mixture is enhanced, while at the same time the amount of hypochlorite required is reduced, with consequent reduction in the amount of alkali metal phosphate necessary to hold the alkali earth I metal in solution.

The germicidal mixture of the present invention, and'the solution which is produced therefrom, are particularly useful in connection with 55 dairy and food equipment which must Further, as will be appreciated, another imbe frequently cleaned and maintained in a thor- .oushly sanitary condition.

In carrying out the present invention, we use any of the usual hypochlorites', e. g., of the al-' kali earth metals. It is preferred to use a rel- 5 atively inexpensive hypochlorite having a high chlorine content and one which has heretofore been considered impracticable for making clear solutions because of its insolubility or diilicult solubility, such as calcium hypochlorite. The 10 calcium hypochlorite we employ preferably has a chlorine content of 60 to 70% although we have 'used compounds of as low as 35%. The advantage of using a high chlorine content hypochlorite resides (l) in an enhanced amount of available chlorine, and (2) in the lower amount of hypechlorite required whereby a reduced quantity of solubilizing agent is necessary to hold the calcium in solution. 1

In order to produce a clear germicidal solution, using such hypochlorite, we mix with the hypochlorlte any solubilizing compound which in the v presence of water will cause the alkali earth metal, e. g., calcium to go into solution and which of itself is water-soluble. Also, this solubilizing compound is of a character to permit control of the pH by itself or by the addition of alkaline materials so that the oorrosiveness of the germicidal solution can be regulated or corrosiveness prevented or reduced to a minimum;

The dry powder soluble chlorine compounds of this invention may contain up to substantially 20% by weight or available chlorine and are capable in aqueous" solution of affording an. amount of available chlorine substantially equal to the amount of available chlorlne in the dry mixture.

, It is also preferred that the solution will have a pH value above neutrality, e. g., in the range of from 9 to 11, usually pH 11. This is important in that by controlling the pH, the corrosive char- 40 acteristlc is effectively adjusted.

As to the solubilizing compounds which are combined with the hypochlorite to form the dry mixture, we prefer phosphates which give soluble alkali earth compounds on the alkaline side of do neutrality in aqueous solution. There are a number of these which are suitable, of which we mention the various water soluble pyro and meta phosphatesmf the alkali metals, preferablysodium hexa meta phosphate. Tetra sodium pyro phosphate may also be employed but is not preferred. D

In some cases as where itis desirable to in-' crease the pH in order to reduce corrosiveness and/or the chlorine content, water soluble sillcates, phosphates and carbonatesioi the alkali metals, preferably sodium metasliicate (anhydrous), trisodium phosphate (monchydrate) and sodium carbonate (anhydrous) are added to the hypochlorite meta'phosphate I! desired, mixtures of two or more of these alkaline compounds can be so added to the hypochlorltemetaphosphate' mixture, e;s.. silicate and phosphate, silicate and carbonate, carbonate and phosphate, or carbonate, phosphate and silicate. That is to say, while the hipochlorite-metaphosphate mixture itself, gives solutions which are sufiiciently non-corrosive for most commercial 7 mixtures which give a 'clear aqueous solution and,

purposes, it may in; certain instances be desirable to have a mixture with minimum corrosiveness and/or lower chloi ine content, and under these circumstances a suitable amount of alkali compound'ormixtures thereof is added. In this manner, water-solnble mixtures having available chlorine any desired amount up to substantially 20%f nay be produced.-

It will be appreciated, of course, that the addition .of the alkali compounds will raise the pH, and/or increase the alkalinity. It'is to he understood that the PH and the alkalinity will be so controlled as to regulate the corrosive charester of the solution, which is preferably maintainedonthe alkaline side of the neutrality,

The resultant powder mhrture has been stored for considerable periods and found highly satisfactory for use, in that theavaiiable chiorine content has been 'in nowisedmpgred. This is particularly important in that it enables the product to be manufactured on a large scale,

shipped in bulk its strength.

As an example of and stored without fear of losing a preferred product which has been foundsatisfactory and relatively inexpensive, we employfone pound of calcium hypcchlorlte (chlorine substantially 60-70%) and three pounds of sodium 'hexa meta phosphate producing a mixtnre containing four pounds of the dry soluble chlorine compound and having substantially fifteen per cent available chlorine. The cost of this mixture which-produces a clear aqueous solution in water having about fourteen grains of hardness, isconsiderably less than the cost of aasimilar quantity of the mixtures now available which are capable of producing a clear solution of similar germicidal effectiveness.

When ;a mixture, containing. less available -chlorine is desired, e. -g. substantially 5%, we

employ one pound of calcium hypochlorite (chlorine substantially 60-70%) three pounds 0! sodium hexa meta phosphate and eight pounds of soda ash so that the mixture contains twelve pounds. This'likewise may be prepared ata cost ccnsiderably less thanthat of present available exhibit a similar germicidal eifectiveness.

' When the mixture of the present invention is added to water, there takes place a chemical reaction in which soluble compounds of the cation of the hypochlorite, e. g. calciumase formed and this solubility ofthe calcinmvand calcium oompounds takes place on the alkaline side of neutrality, 5?

. The action of the solubiiizing compound which is mixed with the hypochiorite is to react with and/or render the insolubie or dimcultly soluble rite soluble in water to produce a clear solution without formation of any'sediment and without injuring the available chlorine content and the value of the solution as a germicide. we

in amount of substantially fifteen per cent, that the compound is soluble in water having a hardness as high as fourteen grains per. gallon and yields a clear solution having a chlorine concentration, for example, of 500 ppm. 5 I As stated, additional amounts of the alkaline material may be. added to reduce the chlorine content where desired, as well as to raise the pH.- It will be understood that the amount of solubilizing agent may be decreased as desired as 10118;)

as solubility of the hypochlorite is obtained; Likewise, the concentration of chlorine in the mixturei may be varied within wide limits as re-; quired. ;In this connection, in lieu of alkaline? materiais we use inert soluble materiaisof vanous whenever it is. desired to reduce the chlorine. content of the dry'mixture without re ducing its corrosiveness or increasing the alkajiinity or pH. For example, sodium chlqride, or

' 'other chlorides of the alkali metals are useful, 20

the particular qualifications being that such jeompounds be inert and water-soluble.

" The term water-soluble, whether applied to I the ingredients of the mixture or to the germlcidal mixture itself, is intended to mean, in this 25 specification, an optically clear solution in water 'inwhich no visible sediment persists.

The dry mixture is dissolved in accordance with general practice in water which' is cold or lukewarm as desired, e. g., 46? to 100 F. 3

The term "compoun as applied to the dry mixture of this inventien is used inits literal It will be appreciated that various types of dry soluble compounds including mixtures of the sev- 35 eral constituents mentioned or their equivalents in varying proportions may be produced, all of which are comprehended within the presentinvention. a

We claimz f 1. A water-soluble chlorine compound com-1 prising 1a difilcultly soluble hypochlorite and af solubilizing agent for the same comprising 95 phosphate which yields soluble compounds of the; cation (tithe hypochlorite onthe alkaline side of 45 neutrality in aqueous solution. e,

' 2. A dry water-soluble chlorine compound comprising an alkali earth metal hypochlorite and a jsolubilizing agent for the same comprising a phos-' phate which yields soluble compounds o'tfthe catiii) "ion of the hypc-chlorite on the alkaline side'of neutrality in aqueous solution.

- 3. A dry water-soluble chlorine'compound comprising ,a difflcuitly soluble hypochlorite and a solubilizing agent for the same comprising an 55 alkali metal phosphate which yields soluble compounds at the cation of. the hypochlorite on the alkaline side of neutrality in aqueous solution.

v I 14. Adry water-soluble chlorine compound comprising an alkali earth metal hypoclilorite and a solubilizing agent for the same comprising an alkali metal phosphate which yields soluble compounds of the cation of the hypochlorite on the alkaline side of neutrality in aqueous solution.

'5. A dry water-soluble chlorine compound com- .75 have found that such chlorine content'is um hesametaphosphate which yields; soluble 7;

the scope of v enemas onipounds of the cation oi? the hypochlorite on he alkaline side of neutiality in aqueous solution.

1. A dry water-soluble chlorine compound com rising calcium hypcehlci'ite and a solubilir-ing gent for the same comprising sodium henw aetaphosphate which yields soluble compounds f the cation of the hypochlorite on the alkaline lde of neutrality in aqueous solution.

8. A dry water-soluble chlorine compound comlrising a dilficultly soluble hypochlorite and a olubilizing agent for the same comprising tetra odium pyrophosphate which yields soluble com-= lounds of the cation of the hypochlorite on the .lkaline side of neutrality in aqueous solution.

9. A dry water-soluble chlorine compound comrising a diflicultlysoluble hypochlorlte and a olubilizing agent for the same comprising a vhosphate which yields soluble compounds of the :ation of the hypochlorite on the alkaline side I! neutrality in aqueoussolution, and an alkali :ompound selected from a group consisting of mtes soluble silicates, phosphates and car- Donates of the alkali metals.

io, n dry Watensoluhie chlorine compound comnrinng a difiicnltly soluble hypochlorite and a solubilizing agent for the same comp-rising a phosphate which yields soluble compounds of the cation of the hypochlorite on the alkaline side of neutrality in aqueous solution, and an alkali compound selected from a group consisting of soda ash, trisodium phosphate and sodium metasilicate.

11. A dry water-soluble chlorine compound comprising a calcium hypochlorite and a soluhilizing agent for the same comprising sodium hexametaphosphate which yields soluble compounds of the cation of the hypochlorite on the alkaline side of neutrality in aqueous solution, and an alkali compound selected from a group consist ing of soda ash, trisodium phosphate and sodium metasilicate.

ARNOLD H. JOHNSON. HENNING A. TREBLER. 

